When Doctors Speak Against Ear Cleaning, What Do They Mean?

Growing up, we didn't see anything wrong with cleaning our ears with cotton buds, I mean, why were they created in the first place? But now, we hear a lot of internet doctors talking about how wrong it is for us to insert anything into our ears, while some of us may not take those internet doctors as being serious, I heard a physical doctor talking about it recently and that was when I knew that growth in life has to do with a lot of learning, unlearning and relearning.

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Experts say what we consider dirt in our ears is not dirt, they are called earwax and, they help to fight against bacteria and fungal infections, they also help keep out tiny particles that could cause damage to the eardrum. According to Dr. Honaker, earwax is the body's built-in system for cleaning the ears, it also serves as a natural moisturizer. He advises that the ear should only be cleaned with a washcloth on the finger and nothing else.

Some people may never get the need to clean their ears, but as we are different as individuals, some people may have the need to clean their ears more, and this is because wax have built it's way in the ear and has affected hearing ability, when this happens, it is called IMPACTION.

The existence of impaction will result in; a foul smell coming out of the ear, aches and impaired hearing from the ear affected, ringing or fullness in the ear, cough, and dizziness. Excessive wax in the ear can be easily developed when you use earplugs or hearing aids.

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Over the counter ear drops can be recommended as well to help soften the wax, these drops are usually a solution that contains saline, baby oil, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide. While using ear drops, remember to follow instructions provided by an expert.

Irrigation is another safe method for getting rid of earwax, it can be done through the rinsing of the ear with warm water or a combination of warm water and hydrogen peroxide. At the hospital, a doctor may
use special tools to see inside the ear, and then proceed to use a spoon or small loop , or other available instruments to remove the earwax.

The major reason why we are advised against the use of the popular cotton swab to clean our ears is because these swab pushes the wax deeper into the ear causing earwax buildup. The skin in the ear canal is very fragile and thin, the choice to dig into the ear through a cotton swab could disrupt skin layers, creating infection, pain, or bleeding. The possibility of poking a hole into the eardrum is highly limited but strongly possible, this creates a situation of dizziness that would require surgery.

Some people even go as far as putting a lit candle into their ears just to get rid of earwax. A lit hollow candle is placed in the ear to create a low-level vacuum, which is meant to soften and remove earwax alongside other impurities. Health experts advice against it, and personally, I feel it is even too risky, it is one act I wouldn't dare to try and i wonder who came up with the concept in the first place.

Now, we know better than cleaning our ears with candle, or any other object. The best way to clean our ears if we feel uncomfortable is with a clean piece of material, or visit a doctor if we feel so uncomfortable.

For Further Studies.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/how-to-clean-your-ear

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-clean-your-ears#why-to-clean-your-ears

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ear-care-and-hygiene

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323024

https://www.verywellhealth.com/ear-candling-8828

Hi, I am Tobi a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. Want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can listen and watch any episode for free, please If do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.